Submersible pump



May 7, 1940. J. M. HAlT SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Filed April 18, 1958 .2 Sheets-Sheet l A imummu. I i

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May 7, 1940. J. M. HAlT SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Filed April 1 8. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1940 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP James M. Hait, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application April 18, 1938, Serial N0. 202,604

7 Claims.

This invention relates to submersible pumps of the deep well type and is concerned more particularly with the provision of an improved lubricating system for such pumps.

It is a, general object of the invention to provide an improved deep well submersible pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lubricating system for pumps of the character referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump of the character referred to, in which the motor can not be contaminated by the water in the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pump of the character referred to, in which the pressure of the water being pumped is utilized -to return the lubricating oil to the surface.

Other objects of the invention will appear from` unit of a submersible pump with certain parts shown in elevation, the view being taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view at the upper end of the motor, similar to the section shown'in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view at the lower end of the motor and is also similar to the section shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6v is a horizontal section through the upper end of the motor unit of the pump, the view being l taken in the plane of the line 6 6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section through the lower end of the motor unitl of the pump, and is taken in the plane of the line 'I-'l in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. l, the pump of my invention 45 may comprise a well casing I0 which is suitably supported in the well from a plate II mounted at the surface of the ground I2. Within the casing I a discharge column I3 is provided which 'terminates' at its upper end in discharge pipe 50 I4 and at its lower end is threaded to receive a tapered coupling I6 by which the pipe I4 is connected to an enlarged column portion or shell I1 which is threaded onV the lower end of the' coupling I6 in abutting relation with an annular shoulder thereon The lower end of the shell ,I1 is threaded to receive a coupling I8 which has a connection to a tapered reducing conduit I9.

The lower end of conduit I9 carries a series of turbine pump bowl assemblies ZI of conventional construction.'

Within the shell I1 (Figs. 2 and 4) the submersible pump motor is mounted by a sealed housing including upper bell 26 formed integrally with the coupling I6 and supported in spaced relation therefrom by a plurality of vertically extending radial ribs 2l. The upper end of the bell 26 is closed by a cap 28 threaded therein and the lower bell end is of reduced diameter to receive a cylindrical motor casing 29 which abuts an annular shoulder on the bell 26. The casing 29 is press fitted thereon with one or more packing glands 3l interposed to provide a water-tight joint. The lower end of the casing 29 (Figs. 2 and is press fitted about the upper end of the lower motor bell 32 and engages an annular shoulder thereon. One or more similar packing glands 3| are provided to seal the connection between the causing 29 and the bell 32. The lower bell 32 is provided at its lower end with an integrally 'formed collar 33 spaced from the inner wall by .vertically extended radial ribs 34 and engaging a seat in the coupling I 8 which is threaded within the lower 'end of the shell I'I. Thus, by adjustment of coupling I8 the motor housing is held in place Within the discharge shell I'I.

Within the motor housing the motor may comprise the stator-s 4I (Fig. 2) suitably secured in the casing 29 and the rotors 42 suitably mounted between a sleeve 43 on the upper reduced portion of a motor shaft 44, and a shoulder 46 of the shaft 44. The upper reduced end of the sleeve 43 provides a seat for the inner race of a bearing 41 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is held between the sleeve 43 and a suitable fastening 'nut 48 threaded on the upper end of the shaft 44. The outer race of the bearing 41 is mounted in the motor housing between the bottor'n face of the upper bell 26 and a bearing retainer 49 which is secured by suitable fastening bolts 5I to the bell 26. The' bearing 41 is of the double ball row type and serves to provide for radial alignment of the motor shaft as well as to absorb the end thrust thereof. At the lower end of the motor housing,

motor shaft 44 (Figs. 2 and 5) is journalled in a bushing 52 which is seated in a central boss 53 integrally formed with the lower motor bell 32 and is supported from the outer wall of the bell by a plurality of vertically extending radial ribs 54. Preferably, a lap flt is providedbetween the shaft 44 and the bushing 52, and at the upper and the well casing I0.

end of the bushing 52, a seal 56 of conventional construction is interposed between the shaft 44 and the bell 32. The seal provided around the shaft 44 is referred to in greater detail hereinafter.

To supply electrical energy to the motor, a pair of cables 6I extend upwardly from the motor windings through the bearing retainer 49 to within the bell 26 where they merge into a single water-proof cable 62 which extends through a boss 63 in one of ribs 21 of the coupling I6 and into the space between the discharge column I3 The joint between the boss 63 and the cable 62 is made water tight by a suitable packing 64 compressed against its seat in the b'oss by a packing nut 65. The cable 62 extends to the surface of the ground where it is connected through a suitable control box (not shown) to the source of electrical energy.

Associated with the above described pump motor structure is a lubricating system which may include a pump II (Fig. 1) of conventional construction which is connected to a suitable supply of clean lubricant and may be driven as by a motor 12. The motor 12 is preferably placed in the circuit of the submersible pump motor and for this purpose the cable 62,' as seen in Fig. 1. is connected to the motor 12 which is therefore driven and controlled simultaneously with the submersible pump motor. From the pump 1I an oil feed line 13 extends downwardly between the column I3 and the well casing I0, and has its lower end in threaded engagement with an apertured boss 14 (Figs. 3 and 6) of the coupling I6. The passage 16 within lboss 14 leads downwardly and thenhorizontally through one of the ribs 21 to open into the chamber formed within the upper motor bell 26. From this chamber the oil can 'flow downwardly through the lower end of the bell 26 and past the bearing 4`1 into the motor casing 29. At the lower end of the casing, the only point of exit for the oil is between the shaft 44 and its bushing 52. It will be understood that the seal 56 at the upper end of the bushing is provided for the purpose of retaining the oil in the motor until it is installed in the well, and as the seal has only a short life after operation of the pump is started, is not important in the matter of confining the oil within the motor during operation thereof.

In order to control the flow of oil from the lower end of the motor casing and to` prevent the entry of any water into the motor casing. an oil trapping chamber 8l (Figs. 2 and 5) is formed within the lower motor bell 32 whose sole opening to the oil, as previously described, is between the shaft 44 and the bushing 52, and whose sole point of connection with the water within the discharge column is through a boss 82 at the lower end of the bell 32 through which the shaft 44 extends freely. It will be seen, therefore, that some intermingling of oil and water will occur in the chamber 8|, and consequently some emulsifying action will also take place. It will be understood 'that the lower portion of the oil trapping chaming from the lower end of the bushing 52 will move upwardly through the passages between the ribs 54 into the annular trap chamber 83 at the upper end of the chamber 8l. From the trap chamber 83 (Figs. 2 and 5) a passage 84" leads downwardly through an enlarged rib 54a, and then upwardly to connect with an oil return line 86 which may be clamped in the bell 32 with a water-proof joint by means of a packing 81 and a packing nut 88. The oil return pipe 86 extends upwardly. through the water column space between the motor casing 29 and the shell I1 into a boss 89 (Figs. 2 and 4) from which it extends through the space between the discharge column and the well casing to the surface of the ground. At its upper end the oil return pipe 86 may be connected through a suitable oil salvaging means to the suction side of the oil pump 1I.

In operation, the pressure imposed by the oil pump 1I must be equal to and preferably should exceed 'the pressure existent in the chamber 8l at the lower end of the bushing 52, so that there will always be a slight flow of oil from within t y the motor housing into the chamber 8|. It will be noted that though the chamber 8| is subject to the pressure of the rising water in the column, it is separated therefrom so that the contents will be in a relatively quiet state. Any surging or swirling of such contents is effectively prevented by the action of the ribs 54 which act as bailies in the chamber 8|. It is seen that the oilyvhich escapes from the motor housing will accumulate in the chamber 8| so that the pressure of the system at this point will force the oil from the annular trap chamber 83 downwardly through the passage 84 and then up through the Oil return line'86. Usually the liquid forced up through the oil return line will be a mixturefof oil and water, though if desired, accurate balancing may be obtained by placing restrictions on the oil return line so that the rate of iiow therethrough is exactly equal to the rate of escape of oil from within the motor housing. Y

From the above description, it will be seen that a constant supply of oil is provided to the submerged motor, and that the apparatus enables balancing of the pressures to prevent entry of any water through the bushing 52 into the motor. In this way, efficient operation over a long period of time is insured.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of both variation and modification from the form selected for illustration, so that the scope of the invention should be limitedonly by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention as disclosed in this application housing being otherwise sealed against the entry of water therein, a pump unit operatively connected to said shaft, a pair of apertured bosses in said housing end for receiving said shaft and being spaced axially therealong,,a bushing journalling said shaft in the inner of said bosses with the clearance therebetween providing the only communicating passage from the housing to the l 2,199,490 water in the pump, a trap chamber formed in said housing about said inner` boss and being closed except for the apertures in said bosses, said trap chamber being subject to the pressure of the water rising from the pump unit through the lower boss, vertically extending baille means in said chamber for preventing rotation of the liquid therein with said shaft, said baille means terminating below the upper end of said chamber to provide an uninterrupted annular space at said upper end, means for supplying oil under pressure to said housing whereby to provide an outward ow of oil through said passage against the water pressure in said chamber, and conduit means leading from vsaid annular space of said chamber for conducting trapped oil therefrom by virtue of said water pressure.

2. In a submersible pump, a housing, a motor in said housing, a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out of one end of said housing, said housing being otherwise sealed against the entry of water therein, a pump unit operatively connected to said shaft, bearing means journalling said shaft in said housing with the clearance therebetween providing the only communicating passage from the housing to the water in the pump, a trap chamberV formed in 'said housing about said bearing means, said trap chamberbeing subject to the pressure of the water rising from said pump unit, vertically extending baiiie means in said chamber for preventing rotation of the liquid therein with said shaft, said baille means terminating below the upper end of said chamber to provide an uninterrupted annular i space at said upper end, means for supplying oil under pressure to said housing from a source at the surface of 4.the ground whereby to provide an outward flow of oil through said passage against the water pressure in said chamber, and conduit means leading from said annular space of said chamber for conducting trapped oil therefrom to the surface of the ground by virtue of said water pressure.

3. In a submersible pump; a pump unit having a water delivery conduit leading therefrom, a motor unit for driving said pump including a housing havingI amotor contained therein and a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out of a restricted passage in said housing for operative connection to said pump unit, means for supplying oil to said housing at a pressure in excess of that obtaining in said water delivery conduit adjacent said housing to prevent ingress of pumpedwater to said housing through said restricted passage, a chamber between thepump 'and motor and adjacent the restricted passage of said housing and surrounding said shaft to trap oil forced thereinto from said passage, the upper portion of said chamber containing said trapped oil and the lower portion thereof being in communication with and containing Water from the discharge side of said pump, and conduit means leading from the oil containing portion of said chamber for conveying trapped oil therefrom to a point out of communication with the water being pumped.

4. In a submersible pump; a pump unit having a water delivery conduit leading therefromga motor unit for driving said pump including a housing having a motor contained therein and a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out of said housing for operative connection to said pump unit, said housing having a bearing for said shaft adjacent the projecting portion thereof, means for supplying oil to said housing at a pressure in excess of that obtaining at the discharge side of said pump adjacent said housing to prevent ingress of pumped water to said housing through said bearing, a, chamber surrounding said shaft and disposed between said pump and motor adjacent the lower end of said bearing to trap oil forced under pressure from said housing, the upper vportion of said chamber containing said trapped oil and the lower portion thereof being in communication with and containing water from the discharge side of said pump, whereby the interior of said chamber is lled with fluid under balanced pressure, and a conduit leading from the upper portion of said chamber for conveying trapped oil therefrom to a point out of communication with thewater being pumped.

5. In a submersible pump, a pump unit having a water delivery conduit leading therefrom, a housing in said delivery conduit, a motor in said housing, a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out of one end of said housing, said housingbeing closed at its opposite end against the entry of water thereinto, said pump unit being operatively connected to said shaft below said motor housing and adapted to discharge water into said delivery conduit exteriorly of said housing, a pair of apertured axially spaced bosses in said housing for rotatably mounting said shaft, a

journal bearing for said shaft disposed within the inner of said bosses with the clearance therebetween Iproviding the only communicating passage from the housing to the water in said delivery conduit, an oil trap chamber disposed in said housing adjacent said inner boss, said 'chamber being subject' to the pressure 0f the pumped 35 water in said delivery conduit through the outer of said bosses nearest the discharge end of said pump, means for supplying oil under pressure to said housing to provide anv outward flow of oil through said lpassage into said chamber against .i the 'water pressure in said chamber to prevent ingress of water to said housing through said passage, the upper portion of said chamber containing trapped oil and the lower portion thereof being in communication with and containing water .fg from the discharge side of said pump, andiconduit means leading from the upper oil containing portion of said chamber for conducting trapped oil therefrom to a locality out of communication with the water being pumped for recirculation if; purposes.

,- 6. Inl a submersible pump, a pump unit having a water delivery conduit leading therefrom; a motor unit for driving said pump including a housing having a motor contained therein and a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out of a restricted passage in said housing for operative connection to said pump unit; means for supplying oil to said housing at a pressure in excess of the pressure at the outer end of said restricted f passage to cause egress of oil and to prevent ingress of water through said passage; means forming a chamber between the pump and motor and adjacent the restricted passage of said housing surrounding said shaft, said chamber being in 05 communication with Water from the discharge side of said Dump whereby pumped water enters said chamber;` and conduit means leading fromsaid chamber for conducting liquid therein to a point out of communication with the well water. I0

7. In a submersible pump, a pump unit having a water delivery conduit leading therefrom; a motor unit for driving said pump including a housing having a motor contained therein and a shaft driven by said motor and projecting out said passageway from said housing, said chamber forming means having an aperture around said shaft, said aperture being subjected exterioriy of said chamber to Water delivered under pressure from said pump whereby pumped water ows into said chamber through said aperture; and conduit means leading from said chamber for conducting liquid therein t0 a point out of communication with the well water.

JAMESMHAIT- 

